Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to take up eight new State road projects and undertake widening and upgrading of three State Highways.

Out of the total estimated cost of Rs 1500 crore, the World Bank has sanctioned an advance loan of Rs 1000 crore, while the state government would to pump in Rs 500 crore for these projects.

This was revealed at a high level review meeting presided over by chief secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik at the State Secretariat here today.

The meeting revealed that for widening and improvement of Bhubaneswar-Khariar road as per package-one, the estimated cost of the project is pegged at Rs 105 crore.

The second package covering Chandbali-Bhadrak-Anandpur road is estimated at Rs 316 crore, while the project coast of the third and fourth package for Berhampur-Taptapani road and and Jagatpur- Chandbali road are pegged at Rs 81.90 crore and Rs 314 crore respectively.

The review further shows that a decision to including eight new State roads has been taken up.
The projects are Rajathgarh-Narsinghpur (76 km), Godabhaga-Turum (42 km), Barkote-Lahunipara (49 km), Badagada-Sorada (40 km), Bamra-Gariamal-Karamdihi-Talsara (46 km), Kandarpur-Machhagaon, Khurda-Jatani-Pipili-Gop road (52 km) and Gop-Konark (18 km).

The chief secretary directed the concerned officials to expedite these projects.

Before initiating the projects, he asked them to prepare deed documents relating to land acquisition and rehabilitation to ensure smooth progress of the projects.

It may be noted that World Bank funded the progress of Odisha State Roads Project (OSRP) has slowed down with cost overrun.

Among othes, development commissioner R N Senapati, works secretary S K Ray, revenue and disaster management secretary Taradutt and senior officials of the World Bank were present at the meeting.